52nd City

On Feb 17 the Contemporary Art Museum was the site for an event where questions (Provincial Gallery Stimulator) were put forward by White Flag Projects founder Matthew Strauss to a panel of respected professionals in the local artistic community. These questions are also extended to the local art community at large to think about, discuss and answer. I've attempted to give my answers, what are yours?

The Repair of the Provincial Art Environment

THE REALITIES OF THE SMALLER CITY:
CAN a smaller city ever be a viable center for progressive visual art? yes
MUST all smaller cities necessarily be provincial? no
IS provinciality defined by geography or philosophy? philosophy
ARE all art galleries in smaller cities necessarily provincial? no
WHAT are the systemic problems that hinder every small city art environment? time and money

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMERCIAL ART GALLERIES:
IS an art gallery merely a business like any other? yes
WHAT are the functions of a commercial art gallery? to sell art
DO commercial art galleries have any cultural responsibilities? no
HOW do economic factors dictate gallery policy and practice? a gallery/dealer must have a vested (monetary) interest in the art they have available for sale.
SHOULD commercial galleries, which determine a significant percentage of the art exhibited in their city, be held accountable for the quality and relevance of those exhibitions? yes

THE PLIGHT OF LOCAL ARTISTS:
WHY are local artists eager to be represented by galleries that do the absolute minimum to earn their commissions? not sure
WHAT functions does a more effective commercial gallery perform that the provincial gallery does not? steady income for an artist.
DOES the provincial gallery advertise, publish catalogues, travel to important art fairs, cooperate with other galleries, or do anything else to expand awareness of their artists beyond the province itself? they should
IS being represented by a provincial gallery more harmful than helpful to the career of a local artist? in some cases
HOW are local artists of otherwise good judgment cowed by their limited alternatives? necessity is the mother of invention

THE ROLE OF LOCAL COLLECTORS:
WHAT are the qualities of a selective buyer of contemporary art? independent thinker, good taste, money
WHAT is the difference between purchasing art from a provincial gallery or a cosmopolitan gallery? price
SHOULD the payment of significant commissions to galleries assure buyers that all due measures are being taken to adequately promote and protect the art and artists in which they have invested? yes

THE EFFECT OF INSTITUTIONS:
HOW do indiscriminant donors and misguided not-for-profits squander their city’s limited resources? no plan
CAN the education efforts of local museums produce a genuinely astute and sophisticated audience for contemporary art? no
HOW do the hiring and retention practices of universities affect the quality of the local art environment? depends on the individual and whether or not they want to get involved with the local community.

THE DETERMINATION OF REAL-WORLD LEGITIMACY:
WHO determines art world legitimacy? no answer
WHAT factors determine a gallery’s legitimacy within the larger art world? no answer
DO provincial galleries strive for actual legitimacy or merely the appearance of legitimacy? no answer
DOES the provincial gallerist demonstrate any particular taste, discernment, foresight, intelligence or energy that would lead a credible authority to place any value in their endorsement? no answer

THE CASE FOR URGENT CHANGE:
ARE there any objective standards of relevance in contemporary art? objectivity is very difficult to express in art, so for the most part, no.
WHO are the individuals & institutions responsible for the provincial philosophy’s persistence? everyone in the community is responsible.
IS anyone in a position to improve the provincial art environment? yes,there are many people in a position to improve the art environment.
WHAT can an individual do to earn a better art environment for their city? make great art
CAN the provincial gallerist be persuaded to amend his or her practices? yes
CAN the mercenary endeavors of a few individuals overshadow the intellectual, aesthetic, and artistic well-being of an entire community? absolutely
MUST we risk that higher standards resulting in less art and fewer galleries in the short term will beckon better art and more galleries in the long term? yes

Matthew Strauss of White Flag Projects
illustration by Dana Smith